NOAA seeks water samplers

            Are you interested in sampling local waters twice a month and identifying the phytoplankton that are found?

            It's okay if the last time you used a microscope was back in high school! No experience is required.

            The NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) is holding new volunteer trainings in Franklin County, Wednesday and Thursday, March 11 and 12.

            PMN provides volunteers with ALL the necessary equipment (except for the light microscope). Volunteers commit to sampling their site at least once every two weeks for at least one year.

            Sampling sites can be anywhere, as long as you have easy, safe, and legal access to the site. Sampling sites must have a salinity of 15 ppt (parts per trillion) or greater throughout most of the year.

            Volunteers need to have computer access to enter data into the PMN online database. Anyone can participate - schools, parks, 4-H clubs, homeschoolers, master naturalists, individuals, etc.

            Sound interesting? Then come and get your hands wet while learning how to identify marine phytoplankton.

            Volunteer training will be held Wed, March 11 at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

            On Thursday, March 12: The Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory at Turkey Point will host training from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the auditorium and lab

            To reserve a spot, contact Jeff Paternoster at 843-762-8657 or jeff.paternoster@noaa.gov

            For additional information about the network, please visit the PMN website at http://www.chbr.noaa.gov/pmn